Zilzal 25 crowned champion of 34th Al Gaffal Race in Dubai

DUBAI, 5 May (BelTA - Emirates News Agency) - Zilzal 25, owned by H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan and led by Marwan Abdullah Mohammed Al Marzouqi, was crowned champion of the 34th edition of the Al Gaffal Traditional Dhow Sailing Race.

Zilzal 25 completed the race in 4 hours and 55 minutes, a testament to the high-speed conditions and outstanding sailing performance across the fleet over the 50+ nautical mile course.

The prestigious event, organised on Friday by the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC), witnessed the participation of 118 traditional 60ft dhows, which sailed more than 50 nautical miles from Sir Bu Nair Island to the shores of Dubai – celebrating the enduring maritime heritage and legacy of the UAE’s forefathers.

Zilzal 25 claimed the title for the fourth time in the race’s history (previously winning in 2010, 2016, and 2017), after surpassing key rivals in the decisive stages of the race.

The Higher Organising Committee said the 34th edition was a resounding success both technically and logistically.

This year’s race took place during the “Year of Community” and marked the grand finale of the 2024–2025 marine sports season. It celebrates 34 years since the race's inception in 1991, founded by the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The Al Gaffal has become a national marine festival, commemorating the UAE’s heritage and reviving the memory of the historic pearl diving voyages of the ancestors.